All single-family homes in California with attached garages and fireplaces are supposed to have a carbon monoxide detector starting July 1 when a new California law takes effect.
Owners of apartment buildings have until Jan. 1, 2013, to comply with the law. “Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, each year claiming the lives of an average of 480 people and sending more than 20,000 people to emergency rooms across the nation,” acting State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover said in a news release.
The colorless, odorless gas is produced from heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, and many types of appliances and cooking devices. It's also produced when gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned.
CO detectors are easy to install and can be purchased at most stores that also sell smoke detectors, said Bill Peters, an information officer for Cal Fire. But not just any detector will do.
“You must buy one that's approved by the state fire marshal's office,” Palm Desert director of buildings and safety Russell Grance said.
They have to be connected to the home's electrical wiring and also have a battery back-up. The exception is homes without attic access and then a battery-operated detector is OK, Grance said.
The fire marshal has a list of approved devices and installation requirements on its website, http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/.
Read the full story as it appeared in the Desert Sun:
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110616/NEWS01/106160310/New-law-takes-aim-silent-killer-CO-fumes
As always - Keep the faith !!
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